I am a maid that's deep in love But, yes, I can complain I have in this world but one true love And Jimmy is his name And if I do not find my love I'll morn most constantly And I will follow Jimmy thro' The lands of liberty
Then I'll put up my yellow hair Men's clothing I'll wear on I'll sign to a bold sea captain My passage I'll work free And I'll find and follow Jimmy thro' The lands of liberty
One night upon the raging sea As we were going to bed The captain cried farewell my boy I wish you were a maid Your rosy cheeks, your rosy lips They are enticing me And I wish dear God with all my heart A maid you were to me
Then hold your tongue dear captain Such talk is all in vain And if, and the sailors find it out They'll laugh and make much game For when we reach Columbia shore Some prettier girls you'll find And you'll laugh and sing and court with them For courting you are inclined
It was not three days after Our ship it reached the shore Adieu my loving captain Adieu for evermore For once I was a sailor on sea But now I'm a maid on the shore So adieu to you and all your crew With you I'll sail no more
Come back, come back my own pretty maid Come back and marry me I have ten thousand pounds in gold And that I'll give to thee So come back, come back my own pretty maid Come back and marry me